Century’s first Nabakalebara Rath Yatra kicks off, two deaths reported
PURI: The century’s first Nabakalebara Rath Yatra (chariot festival) of the Jagannath Temple in Odisha’s coastal town of Puri began on Saturday amid tight security.
The idols of Lord Jagannath, Lord Balabhadra and Devi Subhadra, which were built anew after 19 years, were brought out of the temple and placed in three gigantic wooden chariots amid chanting of mantras and beating of drums.
Several devotees pulled the chariots with the help of strong coconut coir ropes. Only Lord Balabhadra’s chariot could make it to the destination – a temple of Devi Gundicha three kilometres away. Pulling of the chariots of Lord Jagannath and Devi Subhadra had to be stopped midway. The two chariots will resume their journey on Sunday.
However, the death of two women in the middle of the crowd robbed some of the sheen off the festival that drew more than a million people. Odisha director general of police Sanjiv Marik said, “One woman complained of chest pain and was taken to the hospital where she succumbed to her illness. The second woman’s death appears to be a case of exertion and suffocation. No external injury was found on their bodies.” Marik said at least 700 people passed out due to intense humidity. They were carried away by volunteers and given first aid. But two women, injured after falling off a roof, were referred to SCB Medical College in Cuttack.
However, nothing could dampen the religious fervour that swept Puri. “For me, this is magic and fulfilment of my life’s wish — paying obeisance to the gods. I am sure another Nabakalebara will not come in my present life,” Sarita Mishra, a 70-year-old woman from Jharkhand, said.